Software · head to head
PostgreSQL vs Dgraph
PostgreSQL
Software
The world's most advanced open source relational database
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: PostgreSQL requires manual scaling across multiple machines for very large deployments; Dgraph the GitHub repository (dgraph-io/dgraph) is licensed Apache 2.0 with no paid tier, cloud offering, or enterprise edition mentioned anywhere in the README
- They diverge on capability: PostgreSQL covers ACID Compliance, Dgraph covers Native GraphQL.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which PostgreSQL and Dgraph actually diverge.
| Attribute | PostgreSQL | Dgraph |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Unknown | freemium |
| Platforms | Linux, Windows, macOS, BSD, Unix | Linux, Mac, Docker, Web |
| Founded | 1996 | 2016 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in PostgreSQL
- ACID Compliance
- JSON/JSONB Support
- Extensibility
- Advanced Indexing
- Partitioning
- Replication
- pgAdmin
- DBeaver
Only in Dgraph
- Native GraphQL
- Distributed Architecture
- ACID Transactions
- GraphQL Subscriptions
- Geolocation Queries
- Horizontal Scaling
- GraphQL
- Ratel UI
Both cover
- Full-text Search
- Linux support
- Mac support
- Docker support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
PostgreSQL
- Transaction processingnot Dgraph
- Data storagenot Dgraph
- Application backendnot Dgraph
- Reportingnot Dgraph
- Data analyticsnot Dgraph
Dgraph
- Knowledge graphsnot PostgreSQL
- Fraud detectionnot PostgreSQL
- Recommendation enginesnot PostgreSQL
- Network analysisnot PostgreSQL
- Master data managementnot PostgreSQL
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
PostgreSQL
- Requires manual scaling across multiple machines for very large deployments
- Performance tuning requires deep knowledge of database internals
- No built-in graphical admin interface; command-line tools are primary method
Dgraph
- The GitHub repository (dgraph-io/dgraph) is licensed Apache 2.0 with no paid tier, cloud offering, or enterprise edition mentioned anywhere in the README
Pricing, plan by plan
PostgreSQL
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the PostgreSQL review.
Dgraph
Free- CommunityFree
- Native GraphQL
- Graph queries
- Full-text search
- Cloud$39/month
- Managed service
- Auto-scaling
- Enterprise support
Which should you pick?
Choose PostgreSQL if
- You need acid compliance.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, Windows, macOS, BSD, Unix.
- You also want json/jsonb support.
Choose Dgraph if
- You need native graphql.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, Mac, Docker, Web.
- You also want distributed architecture.
Questions people ask
- Is PostgreSQL or Dgraph better?
- Neither clearly leads. PostgreSQL starts at Free and Dgraph at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, PostgreSQL or Dgraph?
- PostgreSQL starts at Free and Dgraph at Free.
- Does PostgreSQL or Dgraph run on more platforms?
- PostgreSQL runs on Linux, Windows, macOS, BSD, Unix. Dgraph runs on Linux, Mac, Docker, Web.
- Can I use PostgreSQL for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is PostgreSQL best used for?
- PostgreSQL is most often used for transaction processing, data storage, application backend, reporting. Of those, transaction processing and data storage are not what Dgraph is typically brought in for.
- What can PostgreSQL do that Dgraph cannot?
- PostgreSQL covers ACID Compliance, JSON/JSONB Support, Extensibility, Advanced Indexing. Dgraph covers Native GraphQL, Distributed Architecture, ACID Transactions, GraphQL Subscriptions. Both handle Full-text Search, Linux support, Mac support, Docker support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
PostgreSQL: Is PostgreSQL completely free?
Yes. PostgreSQL is completely free and open source with no licensing fees or restrictions on use.
SourcePostgreSQL: What platforms does PostgreSQL run on?
PostgreSQL runs on all major operating systems including Linux, Windows, macOS, BSD, and commercial Unix variants, and has been proven highly scalable managing terabytes to petabytes of data.
SourcePostgreSQL: What procedural languages are supported?
PostgreSQL supports stored functions and procedures in multiple languages including PL/pgSQL, Perl, Python, Tcl, Java, JavaScript, R, and Rust.
SourcePostgreSQL: What is ACID compliance in PostgreSQL?
PostgreSQL has been ACID-compliant since 2001, ensuring data integrity through atomicity, consistency, isolation, and durability guarantees for all transactions.
SourcePostgreSQL: Does PostgreSQL support JSON data?
Yes. PostgreSQL supports JSON and JSONB data types for storing and querying JSON documents, along with XML and other document formats.
Source